Packing means for wells



J. C. WEBBER PACKING MEANS FOR WELLS May 26, 1953,

4 she ts-sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1949 INVENTOR. Jack C. Webber' BY fli'i'arne y HTTEST m 0% May 26, 1953 J. c. WE'BBER PACKING MEANS FOR WELLS" 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 16, 1949 ATTE'ST m a 954;:-

INVENTOR.

' Jack C'. Webber Patented May 26, 1953 PACKING MEANS FOR WELLS Jack C. Webber, Dallas, Tex., assignor to The Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 16, 1949, Serial No. 81,797

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a well packer, and more particularly to an improved packer of the so-called hook wall casing'type having a novel setting mechanism whereby inadvertent unlatching is reduced to a minimum, and dovetailed slips designed to be readily assembled and disassembled.

Although various designs of hook wall casing packers are known and used in oil field practice, in substantially all of these packers the setting mechanism consists of a pin or stu adapted to move in a J-slot or L-slot and is operated merely by partial rotation of the mandrel together with some vertical movement thereof. It is a recognized fact that packers employing such a setting mechanism are quite susceptible to inadvertent unlatching during the running and pulling of the packet.

Other setting mechanisms have been developed and employed with hook wall casing packers but none of them have operated entirely satisfactorily for various reasons.

Moreover, in substantially all of these packers heretofore known the slips are secured on the packer by means of some type of connecting link. Therefore, in assembling the packer it. is neces-- sary to attach each of the plurality of slips to a separate connecting link by means of a pin or bolt, or other similar device. It is obvious that such construction has the definite disadvantage in the time involved in assembling and disassembling the slips. I

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an improved hook wall casing packer which obviates the above difficulties.

Another object is to provide such a packer having a novel setting mechanism whereby premature setting by inadvertent unlatching is reduced to a minimum. Another object is to provide such a packer having dovetailed slips designed to be assembled and disassembled readily without employment of connecting links and pins and by merely moving the slip retainer ring laterally out of engagement with the slips which then may be moved longitudinally out of engagement with the dovetailed surfaces of the slip cone, the assembling and disassemblin oi the slips being possible only when the mandrel is removed from the packer.

Another object is to provide such a packer including a novel setting mechanism, the operation of which requires rotation of the mandrel only in a right-hand direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel setting mechanism for such a packer ineluding pairs of cooperating hooks formed at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the sleeve carrying the friction blocks and on the bottom guide member, and a spring element for continuously urging such hooks into latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer thereby to prevent inadvertent setting of the latter.

A further object is to provide a novel setting mechanism for such a packer including pairs of cooperating hooks formed at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the sleeve carrying the'friction blocks and on the bottom guide member, and a spring element associated with each pair of hooks for continuously urging such hooks into latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer.

A still further object is to provide such a packer having friction blocks formed in a manner such that surface irregularities on the casing encountered during runnin and pulling operations, and the flow of fluid in the casing past the friction blocks, tend to rotate the sleeve carrying the friction blocks in a direction as to maintain the setting mechanism in a latched condition.

A further object is to provide an improved resilient packing element including a reinforcing member for effectively preventing extrusion of the resilient body member between the casing and the packer under high pressures and for rigidly securing the resilient body member to the re tainer ring.

A still further object is to provide a packer including novel friction block assembly whereby the friction blocks and associated springs may be readily replaced as a unit.

Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent from the description and drawings which follow.

Broadly, the improved. hook wall casing packer, subject or this invention, includes the usual packing element, packing element expander attached to the mandrel, dovetailed slips for maintaining the packin element at a fixed position in the casing, and a sleeve disposedabout the mandrel and carrying friction blocks for engaging the casing wall. In addition, this packer includes a bottom guide member connected to one end of the mandrel. The setting mechanism consists of pairs of cooperating hooks formed at circumferentially spaced intervals on said sleeve and bottom guide member, and a spring element for continuously urging such hooks into latched relationship during the running and pulling of the packer. To further insure that the packer will not become set prematurely the ends of each of the friction blocks are beveled in a manner such that surface irregularities on the inner wall of the casing and flow of fluid in the latter tend to rotate the sleeve carrying the friction blocks in a direction to maintain the hooks in latched condition both during the running and pulling of the packer.

Another novel feature of the packer is in the design of the dovetailed slips, whereby they may be readily and easily assembled and disassembled. Each of the slips is provided with a dependent L-shaped extension, which extensions are adapted to engage complementary, arcuate T-shaped elements formed on a slip retainer ring disposed about the mandrel by lateral movement of the retainer ring when the slips are in their expanded positions and when the mandrel is removed from the packer. The presenc of the mandrel within the packer prevents inadvertent disassembling of the slips.

The invention may be better understood by referring to the attached drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing the upper portion of a packer constructed in accordance with the invention, with the various elements in their relative positions prior to setting of the packer.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the lower portion of the packer with the various elements in their relative positions prior to setting of the packer.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

, Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view takenalon the line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a partial development taken the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing the upper portion of the packer of -Figures 1 and 2 with the various elements in their relative positions after setting of the packer;

Figure 10 is an elevational View, partially in section, showing the lower portion of the packer of Figures 1 and 2 with the various elements in their relative positions after setting of the packer. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a plan view showing the reinforcing member of the resilient packing element.

- Figure 13 is an elevational View showing the reinforcing member.

- Figure 14 is an elevational view showing the slip cone removed from packer and including the stops for limiting the upward displacement of the slip cone.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular at this time to Figures 1, 2, 9, and 10, a packer constructed in accordance with this invention is shown positioned within a well casing generally denoted by numeral The packer includes mandrel 2 to one end of which is threaded, as at 3, or otherwise secured, packing element expander 4 threaded in turn, as at 5, to tubing string 6 by means of which the packer is lowered to the desired position in the casing. To the other end of mandrel 2 bottom guide member is threadably connected, by means of rightalon along alon alon

along hand threads 8, or other suitable means, such, for example, as welding, guide member I being largerthan all other parts of the packer to prevent substantially damage to the operating parts of the packer by restrictions present on the inner wall of the casing, and having relatively narrow slots 9 extending longitudinally on the surface thereof to allowflow of fluid past theguide member as the packer is lowered and raised in the casing. A cylindrical packing element Ifl of rubber, or other suitable resilient material, which element will be described more fully hereinafter, is connected by rivets H or screws, or other means, to retainer ring I2 threaded, as at l3, to slip cone 4 disposed about mandrel 2, packing element l0 and retainer ring |2 preferably being of substantially the same internal and external diameter. The internal diameter of packing element I0 is such as to permit expander 4 upon movement of mandrel 2 relative to packing element H] to pass thereinto and to force it into sealing engagement with the casing wall, as described below.

Normally, the tapered end of slip cone |4 abuts shoulder l5 formed by turning down the upper portion of mandrel 2, as shown. Formed ex-I ternally on slip cone I4 is a series of dovetailed guide surfaces |6 along which slips I! are adapted to ride or move in theusual manner.

Welded or otherwise secured to slip cone M at the lower end of each of the guide surfaces I6 is a stop |8, as shown in Figures 2, 10, andll, for engaging a recovery shoulder, such as shoulder l9, formed on the associated slip and for limiting the upward movement of the slipcone. The slips I! are provided with the usual teeth 20.

The lower ends of slips terminate in L, shaped extensions 2| for engaging complemen-' tary, arcuate T-shaped members 22 formed on slip retainer ring 23 and for preventing subj stantially longitudinal movement of the slips relative to ring 23. It is readily seen that the slips are permitted free radial movement into, and out of engagement with the casing wall un-Q der the force of slip cone 4. With mandrel 2 removed from the packer the slips may be assembled and brought into engagement with slip retainer ring 23, prior to running the packer. in the well, by first, longitudinally moving the slips downwardly into engagement with dove tailed guide surfaces Hi and then moving the slip retainer ring laterally in a manner to bring the T-shaped members 22 into engagement with L -shaped extensions 2|. The mandrel is then inserted in position within the packer. It is to be understood that the slips cannot be disengaged without removal of the mandrel from the-packer since the slips are prevented by contact of T- shaped members 22 with the lower end of the slip cone from being moved upwardly on guide surfaces IB a distance sufficient to allow disengagement thereof and since the slip retainer ring is prevented substantially by the mandrel from being moved laterally to disengage T-shaped members 22 from the L-shaped extensions of slips 1. When the packer is being run or pulled the various elements are in the relative positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, as above stated, and the slips are in a retracted position with the L-shaped extensions 2| adjacent mandrel 2, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. As the slips are forced outwardly by slip cone l4 during the setting operations, in a manner below described, the L-shaped extensions 2| also move outwardly, taking the position shown in Figure 11 when the slips are firmly set in the casing wall. It should be pointed out that slip cone H is provided with a plurality of circumferentially dis-, posed openings 24, as shown in Figures: 2, 5, and 14, and also with vertically extending grooves 25 (Figure 5.) formed in the inner wall thereof to provide a fluid flow path through the packer when it is being run into or pulled from the well. Each of the grooves communicates at one of its ends with one of the openings 24 and at its other end with the annular space 26 between packing element Ill and mandrel 2. It is seen that as the packer is lowered into the casing fluid present therein may flow through openings 24 into grooves 25 and thence upwardly into the casing above packing element l0. Obviously, as the packeris withdrawn from the well the fluid in the casing follows the same path past the packer but flow is in the opposite direction. This fluid flow path through the packer is blocked by expander 4 when the packer is set since, as described hereinafter, the packer is set by manipulation of mandrel 2 so as to move expander into packing element causing the latter to be compressed into sealing engagement with the casing Wall.

A sleeve 2! is disposed about mandrel 2 below slip retainer ring 23, the sleeve having formed therein a series of openings 28 in which are mountedfriction blocks 29. Referring to Figure 6, each friction block is housed in a channelshaped holder 30 which, in turn, fits snugly in one of the openings in sleeve 2'! and which is provided with shoulders 31 along the open side to bear on sleeve 21 and to maintain the holder in position in the associated opening. Further, each friction block has formed therein inside sockets 32 in which. are located coil springs 33 whose inner, ends bear against holders 3!! and normally hold the outer ends of the friction blocks projected beyond sleeve 2! for the purpose of holding the sleeve at a selected place in the casing when it is desired to set the packer. The friction blocks 29 have their ends reduced, forming shoulders, such as shoulders 34 (Figures 2 and -1(l), which limit their'outward movement by contact of shoulders 3A with lips 35 of sleeve 21 and coupling 38 threaded, as shown, to sleeve .21, the lower end .31 of which overhangs the openings Zfij Screws, not shown, inserted in suitable holes 38 provided in friction blocks 29 may be employed for holding the latter in retracted position during assembling of the packer, which screws are removed prior to running the packer in the casing.

.Sleeve 2'! is rotatably connected to slip retainer ring 23 through coupling .36 by means of ball bearings, such as bearing 39, which ride on bearing races 40 and 4 I, respectively, formed, as shown in Figures 2 and 10, on the lower end of slip .retainer ring 23 and atthe upper end of coupling 36 which terminates in an internal lip 42 to pre vent disengagementof ring '23 and coupling 36. Thus it isseen whilesleeve 2'! is connected to ring 23 the sleeve is free to rotate relative to the ring and, consequently, to slips H and packing oleat its lower end in preferably three internally formed, downwardly extending hooks 44. It is to be understood that the number of hooks may be varied as desired without departing from the scope of this invention. A like number of similar hooks 45 extending upwardly are formed exteri-. orly on the upper end of bottom guide member I, each of which is adapted to engage one of thev books 44 to form pairs of cooperating hooks: at.

circumferentially spaced intervals about the lower,

end of the packer. The hooks are arranged in a manner such that they may be unlatched merely by partial right-hand rotation of the mandrel as sleeve ,2! is held against rotation by the force of friction blocks 29 against the casing wall.

For the purpose of preventing premature unlatching of the packer there is provided resilient spring means for continuously urging rotation of sleeve 21 in a direction so as to keep the cooperating pairs of hooks in latched relationship. 'In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings and particularly in Figures 2, 7, 8, and '10, .a. plurality of leaf springs 46 are employed to continuously apply force to the hooks 44 .in a manner so as to keep the cooperating pairs of hooks in latched relationship, during the run ning and pulling of the packer in the well, eachof the leaf springs being affixedat one of its ends by any suitable means, such, for example, as. by

bolts 41 to one of the hooks 45 on bottom guide; member i and bearing at its other end, when the hooks are in latched relationship, against the depending hook of the next succeeding pair of books. The force of springs 46 is suiiicient to prevent substantially premature setting of the packer by inadvertent rotation of mandrel 2 when the packer is being run into or pulled from the well, Thus, if mandrel 2 is inadvertently rotated while the packer is being run or pulled, leaf springs 46 will impart corresponding motion to sleeve 21 against the force of friction blocks 2-9 on the casing wall, thereby preventing the unlatchingof hooks 44 and 45. It is to be understood that other means may be provided for im-- such corresponding motion to sleeve '21 to prevent unlatching of books 44 and 45 withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. Interference with the rotation of slips Hand pack-- ing element I'll about mandrel 2 by surface irregularities on the casing wall, or from any other cause, has no efiect on the rotation of sleeve 2! since the latter is rotatably connected to slipretainer ring 23 by means of ball bearings, as above described. However, when the packer is heldstationary in the casing right-hand rotation of tubing '6 and, therefore, mandrel 2 will result-in the unlatching of the hooks, notwithstanding the force of leaf springs 46.- Similarly, unlatching of the packer may be brought'about while it is. being moved at a relatively low :rate vertically in the casing by sufficient right-hand rotation of mandrel .2.

To further. insure against unlatching 0f the packer while it is being moved along the casing and particularly by surface irregularities on the casing wall and flow of fluid past the packer, theends of each of the friction blocks 29 are pro vided with beveled surfaces, such as-surfaces 48 and 49, as-shown in Figures 2 and 10, formed .in a manner such that the force of such surface irregularities and fluid flow on the friction blocks 23 will tend to rotate sleeve 21 in a direction as to maintain the packer in latched condition Thus it is seen that beveled surfaces 48 formed at the upper end of each of the friction blocks 2c extendxdownwar-dly and to the right whereas ,7. beveled surfaces 49'formed at the lower end'of each of the friction blocks extend upwardly and to the right. When the packer is being lowered into the well surface irregularities on the casing wall and fluid within the casing act on the lower ends of the friction blocks anddue to beveled surfaces 49 tend to rotate the friction blocks 23 and, consequently, sleeve 21 in .a right-hand direction, thereby tending to maintain the cooperating pairs of hooks in latched relationship. On the other hand, when the packer is pulled from the well the surface irregularities and fluid within the casing act on the upper ends of the friction blocks in a manner so as to urge rotation of the friction blocks and, consequently, sleeve 21 in a right-hand direction, again tending to maintain the cooperating pairs of hooks in latched relationship.

' The packer, as shown in Figures 9 and I0, is'

identical with that shown in Figures 1' and 2, with the exception that the various components are in their relative positions following the setting of the packer.

Novel packing element consists'of a cylincuring the resilient body member to the retainer ring. Referring to Figures 12 and 13, reinforcing member I, which may be stamped from sheet metal, includes a base/52 having an axial opening for receiving mandrel 2 and a plurality of upwardly extending fingers 53 preferably of arcuate shape and extending inwardly at their free ends, each of the fingers being substantially in contact with adjacent like members when the packing element is not under compression. The fingers are provided with longitudinal slots 54 to assist in securing to the reinforcing member 5| the cylindrical body member 50 which is moldedabout fingers 53, the lower end of body member 50 abutting base 52. Prior to molding of the body member about fingers 53 it is preferable to secure reinforcing member 5! to retainer ring [2 by means of rivets disposed in suitable openings 55 formed in base 52. The reinforcing member effectively prevents extrusion of the resilient body member under high pressures and also provides a means for securing the body member to the retainer ring I2, thereby preventing substantially the tearing away of body member 50 as the packer is moved along the casing. It is obvious that when the resilient body member is compressed into sealing engagement with the casing fingers 53 will move outwardly at their free ends but will continue to secure the body member to the retainer ring.,

Packing element expander 4 is adapted to pas into packing element It! to cause the latter to be expanded into initial engagement with the casing wall. Shoulder 56 is formed externally about expander 4 to bear against the free end of packing element It) and under sufficient force from tubing 6 to compress it into final sealing engagement with the casing wall.

' In operation, after the packer has been assembled, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,'it is'lowered to the desired position within casing I by means of tubing string 6. As the packer moves downwardly fluid below the packer flows through openings 24 into grooves 25 and thence passes upwardly between packing element l0 and mandrel 2 into the casing above the packer. Surface sleeve 21 to rotate in a' direction as to maintain the hooks in latched relationship. When the packer reaches the desired position tubing string 6 is rotated in a right-hand direction causing corresponding rotation of mandrel 2 thereby to unlatch hooks 44 and 45. The tubing string is then lowered an additional amount permitting slip cone l4 to move downwardly into slips I 1' setting the latter firmly in the casing wall thereby preventing movement of packing element II and sleeve 21 longitudinally in the casing. Lowering of tubing 6 is continued until expander 4 moves into packing element 10 causing the latter to be compressed into sealing engagement with the casing wall. When it is desired to remove the packer it is only necessary to pull tubing 6 whereby expander 4 is withdrawn from packing element l0 and slip cone I4 is removed from the slips by the force of shoulder l5 acting on the lower end of the slip cone, thereby allowing packing element It) and sleeve 21 to move upwardly with the mandrelwhen hooks 45 once again are brought into a position to engage hooks 44. Since at this time sleeve 2! begins to move upwardly in the casing the force of leaf springs 46 is sufiicient to cause sleeve 21 to rotate, thereby relatching the hooks. As the packer is withdrawn from the casing surface irregularities and fluid contained therein act on beveled surfaces 48 to urge rotation of sleeve 21in a direction so as to maintain the hooks in latched relationship thereby preventing inadvertent setting of th packer.

While in the foregoing there'has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

' I claim:

1. A packer for a well including a packing element member, an expander member, a mandrel with which is associated one of said members, a sleeve provided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, pair of cooperating hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and the expander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement with the cas-. ing wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, spring means for continuously urging said hook means into latched relationship during the running and pulling of the packer, means on the sleeve for frictionally engaging the casing wall, a slip retainer ring dis-, posed about the mandrel and connected to the sleeve, said ring having formed thereon a series of T-shaped members, a plurality of slips for engaging the casing wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve therein, an L-shaped extension formed at the end of each of said slips to engage said T-shaped members thereby preventing longitudinal movement of said slips relative to said ring, and bearing means for rotatably connecting said ring to the sleeve, said spring means consisting of a spring element secured to each of the hook means provided on the mandrel and bearing against adjacent hook means.

- s'leeveprovided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, pairs of cooperating hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing-element member and theexpander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the -'latter into sealing engagement with the casing wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, spring means for continuously urging said hook: means into latched relationship during the running and pulling: of the .packer, means on the sleeve for frictionally' enaeing. the casing wall, a slip retainer ring disposed about the mandrel and connected to. the sleeve, said ring having formed thereon a series .of T-shaped members-,a plurality of slips for. engaging the casing wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve therein, an L-shaped extension formed at the end of each of said slips to engage said T-shaped members thereby preventmg longitudinal movement of said slips relative to said; ring, and bearing means for rotatably connecting said ring to the sleeve, said spring means consisting of a spring element secured to each of the hook means provided on the mandrel and :bearing against adjacent. hook means, and said -friction engagingmeans having their ends beveled in a manner such that surface irregularities on -thecasing wall encountered by the: packer during the running and pulling thereof tend to 1'0- tate the sleeve ina direction as to maintain said pairsof hook means. in latched relationship.

3. Ina packer for. a well including a packing element member, an expander member, a mandrel 1,;

withwh-ich isv associated one of said members,

- and a sleeve providedv about the mandrel andwith vwhich is associated the other of said members, a

setting mechanism comprising pairs of cooperating, hook means provided at circumierentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and the expander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement with the casing wall upon rotatable movement ofthe mandrel relative to the sleeve, and spring means operativel'y engaging each of the hook means when saidpairs of hook means: are in latched relationship to urge 5 said hook means to remain in latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer. I

l 4'. In a packer for a well includin a packing element member, an expander member, a mandrel with which is associated one of said members,

and a sleeve provided about themandrel and with "which is associated the other of said members, a settingmechanism comprising pairs of cooperating hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively; on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and the expander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement with the casing wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, and spring means operatively engaging each of the hook means when packer,- said spring means consisting-of a plurality of-spring elements secured to the hook means on on of said mandrel and said sleeve and adapted to bear against the other hook means: when: said pairs of hook means are in latched relationship.

5.111 a packer for a well including a packing element member, an expander member, a mandrel with which is associated one 01 said memhers, and a sleeve provided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, a setting-mechanism comprising pairs of cooperating hook means provided at circumierentiallv spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packmg element member and the expander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement withv thecasing. wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, and. spring means operatively engaging each of the hook means when said pairs of hook means are in latched. relationship to urge said hook means to remain in latched relationshipduring running and pulling of the packer, said spring: means consisting oi-a spring element secured to each of the hook means provided on the mandrel and bearing against adiacent hook means on the sleeve when saidpairs of hook. means are in latched relationship,

6. in a packer for a well. including a packing element member, an expander member,- a mandrel with which is associated one of said members and a sleeve provided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, the combination of a slip retainer ring disposed about the: mandrel and. rotatably connected to said sleeve, said. ring having formed thereon a series of. T-shaped members, a plurali-ty of slips for engaging the casing wall to prevent longitudinal movement or said sleeve therein,r and an L-shaped extension formed at the end of each or said slips to engage said T shap'ed members thereby preventing longitinlina-lmovement of said slips relative to said ring, and. trio- I time reducing bearing means interposed; between said ring and said sleeve.

which is associated thevother of said members,

a setting mechanism; comprising pairs of coopcrating. hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and the expand-er in spaced. apart relationship and for permitting the: expander member: to be brought into contact Wl'llhl the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing. engagement with; the casing wall upon rotatable movement of. the mandrel relative to the sleeve, and means on said sleeve for frictionally engaging the casing wall, said frictionally engaging means each having their upper and lower ends, respectively, inclined from the horizontal, said upper ends being inclined downwardly in the direction opposite to the open sides of the hook means provided on the sleeve and said lower ends being inclined upwardly in the direction opposite to the open side of the hook means provided on the sleeve, whereby surface irregularities on the casing wall encountered by the packer during the running and pulling thereof tend to rotate said sleeve in a direction to maintain said pairs of hook means in latched relationship.

, 8. In a packer for a well including a packing :element member, an expander member, a mandrel with which is associated one of said members, and a sleeve provided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, a setting mechanism comprising pairs of cooperating hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and the expander in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member to be brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement with the casing wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, spring means operatively engaging each of the hook means when said pairs of hook means are in latched relationship to urge said hook means to remain in latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer, and means on said sleeve for frictionally engaging the casing wall, said frictionally engaging means each having their upper and lower ends, respectively, inclined from the horizontal,

said upper ends being inclined downwardly in the direction opposite to the open sides of the hook means provided on the sleeve and said lower ends being inclined upwardly in the direction opposite to the open side of the hook means provided on the sleeve, whereby surface irregularities on the casing wall encountered by the packer during the running and pulling thereof tend to rotate said sleeve in a direction to maintain said pairs of hook means in latched relationship;

' into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement -with the casing wall upon rotatable movement .of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, spring means operatively engaging each of the hook means when said pairs of hook means are in latched relationship to urge said hook means to remain in latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer, a slip retainer ring disposed about the mandrel and rotatably connected to the sleeve, said ring having formed thereon a series of Tshaped members, a plurality of slips for engaging the casing wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve therein, and an L-shaped extension formed at element member, an expander member, a mandrel with which is associated one of said members, a sleeve provided about the mandrel and with which is associated the other of said members, pairs of cooperating hook means provided at circumferentially spaced intervals, respectively, on the mandrel and the sleeve for maintaining the packing element member and" the expander member in spaced apart relationship and for permitting the expander member tobe brought into contact with the packing element member to compress the latter into sealing engagement with the casing wall upon rotatable movement of the mandrel relative to the sleeve, spring means operatively engaging each of the hook means when said pairs of hook means are in latched relationship to urge said hook means to remain in latched relationship during running and pulling of the packer, a slip retainer ring disposed about the mandrel and rotatably connected to the sleeve, said ring having formed thereon a series of T-shaped members, a plural- 'ity of slips for engaging the casing wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve therein, and an L-shaped extension formed at the end of each of said slips to engage said T-shape'd members thereby preventing longitudinal movement of said slips relative to said ring, and

means on said sleeve for frictionally engaging the casing wall, said frictionally engaging means each having their upper and lower ends, respectively, inclined from the horizontal, said upper ends being inclined downwardly in the direction opposite to the open sides'of the hook means provided on the sleeve and said lower ends being inclined upwardly in the direction opposite to the open side of the hook means provided on the sleeve, whereby surface irregularities on the casing wall encountered by the packer during the running and pulling thereof tend to rotate said sleeve in a direction to maintain said pairs of hook means in latched relationship.

JACK c. WEBBER.

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